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Posted by Doug Jacobs on 06/04/07 20:54
Derek Janssen <ejanss@nospam.comcast.net> wrote:
> (Comcast, that's what we've got in our area--
> And just *try* fighting off their efforts to sell you the digital
> on-demand package, so no help asking them about basic-HD.)
I get the OTA HD channels through my plain old, non-digital, cable
connection. True, I don't get DiscoveryHD, or FoodNetworkHD, but I do get
ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and about 5 PBS HD channels. For awhile, I even got
History Channel (non-HD, but was channel 69.3?) and I still get a bunch of
the stupid "digital music" channels which sound worse than my regular
radio. And Comcast wants you to PAY for that service?
> Which (hopefully built-in) tuner would I be looking for WITHOUT the
> HD-DVR box?
> Up till now, I've always fed my standard-cable signals in through the
> cable-ready VCR (which's why I've never gone for standard-DVR either),
> as I like to skip the monthly box shakedown.
Look for a set that has a QAM tuner. That should allow you to get the
local OTA HD stations through your regular cable without needing "digital
cable", or an upgrade to "HD". Just remember, if you have a non-HD-DVR,
you'll need to use a good quality splitter (and maybe one with a signal
booster built into it) so you can plug the cable into your TV for HDTV,
and your DVR for recording non-HD channels.
You can also purchase an external QAM tuner, unfortunately most seem to do
stupid things like HD->Composite/Svideo, meaning they're intended for the
eventual switchover circa 2009 or so when all OTA TV signals will go HD
but folks like Grandma don't want to buy a new TV.
At least, that's all my friend has been able to find. He's in an
apartment building, facing the "wrong" way for his HD antenna to pickup
anything, but he does have cable.
--
It's not broken. It's...advanced.
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